TPG: 10 things I miss about flying

May 17, 2020

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5 min read

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As someone who usually flies 250,000+ miles and hasn't been on plane since March 1 due to coronavirus, these last two months being grounded have me itching to get back in the air, just like everyone else here at TPG.

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While I'm using this time to continue to rack up points and miles for and plan my next trip, I've also been thinking about the little things — even the usually annoying things! — I miss about being in an airport right now.

Here are 10 aspects of life on the road I'll welcome with open arms once the time comes.

1. The unmistakable smell of Auntie Anne's pretzels wafting through the terminal.

You know the smell. (Photo credit: Melanie Lieberman, The Points Guy)

2. The frantic last-call boarding announcements for the person still drinking at the airport Chili's, about to miss their flight to Cancun.

Ready to be back on the beach of the Ritz Carlton Cancun. (Photo by Zach Griff / The Points Guy)

3. The head-to-toe, rubber-gloved TSA pat down.

It's been so long. (Featured photo by Bob Riha, Jr./Getty Images)

4. The feeling of daggers in my back as I jump to the front of the TSA PreCheck line thanks to my CLEAR status.

When it's time to head back to the airport, avoid long security lines by signing up for expedited security programs such as TSA PreCheck or CLEAR. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images)

5. The excitement of walking onto a plane with delusions of grandeur, thinking your seatmate is going to be your soul mate — but it's usually just another tired business traveler.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B_xk4Pcp9ag/

6. Trying to find the Uber driver — "Are you in the inside lane or the outer lane?!" — and time it exactly right to minimize time outside.

We still don't miss LAX-it though. (Patrick T. Fallon/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

7. Shopping at Hudson News, trying to find a healthy but delicious snack and coming up empty once again — and just going with mesquite barbecue deep fried potato chips.

We never thought we'd see the day... yet here we are. (Photo by: Jeffrey Greenberg/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)

8. Waiting in endless Starbucks lines, wishing they had mobile ordering in airports.

When you gotta go, you gotta go — catch a plane, that is. Photo by Jeffrey Greenberg/UIG via Getty Images

9. Eating nuts on a plane as if they are the most exclusive delicacy in the world — even when I don't really like nuts, but they just taste better warm on a plane.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B7EASLend4a/

10. Feeling like Norm from "Cheers" walking into a Centurion Lounge, seeing the friendly check-in agents and countless TPG readers, and knowing I'm exactly where I'm supposed to be.

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What weird things do you miss most about being in an airport? Let us know in the comments.

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Intro Offer
For a limited time, earn 80,000 bonus ThankYou® Points after you spend $4,000 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening
Earn 80,000 ThankYou® points
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Annual Fee
$95
Recommended Credit
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO© Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.
670-850
Excellent, Good

Why We Chose It

Pros

Earns 3x points on restaurants, supermarkets, gas stations, air travel and hotels.
$100 annual hotel savings benefit (on single hotel stay bookings of $500 or more, excluding taxes and fees, booked through thankyou.com)
Points transfer to 16 airline programs, from JetBlue to Virgin Atlantic.
World Elite Mastercard benefits, extended warranty, damage and theft protection.

Cons

$95 annual fee
Lacks travel protections that other travel rewards cards come with

For a limited time, earn 80,000 bonus ThankYou® Points after you spend $4,000 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening
Earn 3 Points per $1 spent at Restaurants and Supermarkets
Earn 3 Points per $1 spent at Gas Stations, Air Travel and Hotels
Earn 1 Point per $1 spent on all other purchases
Annual Hotel Savings Benefit
80,000 Points are redeemable for $800 in gift cards when redeemed at thankyou.com
No expiration and no limit to the amount of points you can earn with this card
No Foreign Transaction Fees on purchases

TPG: 10 things I miss about flying

1. The unmistakable smell of Auntie Anne's pretzels wafting through the terminal.

2. The frantic last-call boarding announcements for the person *still drinking* at the airport Chili's, about to miss their flight to Cancun.

3. The head-to-toe, rubber-gloved TSA pat down.

4. The feeling of daggers in my back as I jump to the front of the TSA PreCheck line thanks to my CLEAR status.

5. The excitement of walking onto a plane with delusions of grandeur, thinking your seatmate is going to be your soul mate — but it's usually just another tired business traveler.

6. Trying to find the Uber driver — "Are you in the inside lane or the outer lane?!" — and time it *exactly right* to minimize time outside.

7. Shopping at Hudson News, trying to find a healthy but delicious snack and coming up empty once again — and just going with mesquite barbecue deep fried potato chips.

8. Waiting in endless Starbucks lines, wishing they had mobile ordering in airports.

9. Eating nuts on a plane as if they are the most exclusive delicacy in the world — even when I don't really like nuts, but they just taste better warm on a plane.

10. Feeling like Norm from "Cheers" walking into a Centurion Lounge, seeing the friendly check-in agents and countless TPG readers, and knowing I'm exactly where I'm supposed to be.

Top offers from our partners

How we chose these cards

TPG featured card

Citi Premier® Card

Rewards

Intro offer

Annual Fee

Recommended Credit

Why We Chose It

Pros

Cons

Citi Premier® Card

Rewards Rate

Intro OfferOpen Intro bonusFor a limited time, earn 80,000 bonus ThankYou® Points after you spend $4,000 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening

Annual Fee

Recommended CreditOpen Credit score descriptionCredit ranges are a variation of FICO© Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.

Why We Chose It

Pros

Cons

2. The frantic last-call boarding announcements for the person still drinking at the airport Chili's, about to miss their flight to Cancun.

6. Trying to find the Uber driver — "Are you in the inside lane or the outer lane?!" — and time it exactly right to minimize time outside.

Intro Offer
For a limited time, earn 80,000 bonus ThankYou® Points after you spend $4,000 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening

Recommended Credit
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO© Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.